The widening NSA net

[chat_noir]

By now, most Americans know by heart the Bush administration's standard response to disclosures about its domestic spying efforts.

"The (fill in the blank) program is perfectly legal. The federal government has the authority - and responsibility - to do whatever is necessary to protect this nation from another terrorist attack on U.S. soil. Americans should trust their government to protect their rights. Disclosure of such programs is unpatriotic and undermines national security."

That was the administration's response several months ago when leaks revealed a secret eavesdropping program conducted by the National Security Agency. At the time, President Bush insisted electronic surveillance of American citizens without warrants - and outside the strictures of law governing national security searches and wiretaps - was "consistent with the constitutional authority vested in me as commander in chief."

The NSA, administration officials said, was targeting only international phone conversations and e-mails, and only a small number of Americans linked to foreign terrorists.

http://www.registerguard.com/news/2006/05/16/ed.edit.datamining.phn.0516.p1.php?section=opinion

[The Deacon]

1. Repeat After Me:

"I am a Good German. I do not know what went on in those camps. Those were Bad People our government was protecting us from."

[EVDebs]

2. "If your're not with us you're against us" -- Bush administration

Translation: NO dissent whatsoever allowed. No thinking allowed, no questions asked. This is the reich-wing speaking to you.